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Manufacturing program manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted experts

Angela Sebby Ph.D.,

TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical manufacturing program manager skills. We ranked the top skills for manufacturing program managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.0% of manufacturing program manager resumes contained sigma as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a manufacturing program manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 manufacturing program manager skills for your resume and career

1. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use sigma:

Used six sigma tools to analyze manufacturing problems, determined corrective actions and implemented recovery plan.
Led and implemented numerous cost reduction and quality improvement projects applying Lean Enterprise and Six Sigma principles.

2. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use continuous improvement:

Executed and coordinated training programs and certifications relative to Lean philosophy, continuous improvement tools and methods and change management.
Participated in continuous improvement plans and conducted time studies and payback analysis.

3. Project Management

Here's how manufacturing program managers use project management:

Utilized Principles of Project Management to manage projects.
Key Highlights: -Recognized Project Management expert that mentors, trains, and intervenes across Company divisions and technical disciplines.

4. Process Improvement

Here's how manufacturing program managers use process improvement:

Worked with contract manufactures to identify value engineering and process improvement opportunities.
Developed and executed long-range plans, manufacturing cost reductions and process improvements.

5. Lean Six Sigma

Here's how manufacturing program managers use lean six sigma:

Improved employee development through lean six sigma/operational excellence training and establishing new SOP's.

6. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use logistics:

Set up a Regional Fulfillment Center, with a Logistics Partner, to support entire Latin American region @ 3.5M units.
Managed materials and logistics with both customers and supply base to support revenue generation and product diversification strategies.

7. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how manufacturing program managers use lean manufacturing:

Created and taught lean manufacturing training and simulation class, The Toy Boat Company, for the worldwide supply chain organization.
Reported to the Director Heavy Twin and Piston Business Unit Established and Directed the corporations lean manufacturing efforts.

8. Production Control

Production control is the component of management that directs, plans, and controls the supply and processing of raw material. Any enterprise does this so that specific products get produced by a stipulated approach to convene an authorized sales programme. Production control is often executed from a control or operations room.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use production control:

Formalized production control functions and team member in selection on a new MRP system.
Served as Senior Production Control Planner for Systems and SBC products.

9. Aerospace

Aerospace refers to the physical science focusing on designing and developing, testing, and producing systems that aid in navigation to space or traverse through the earth's atmospheric zone.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use aerospace:

Designed and supervised the installation of 2 class 1000 Clean Room facility for both Aerospace and Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Developed a OEM switched mode TECC and environmentally hardened TECC with a power density of 10W/in3 for Aerospace applications.

10. PMO

Project management office or, as is often abbreviated, PMO is a part often found in larger companies, agencies, and other organizations of varying sizes. This department's main focus is to create, alter, and help implement project management policies and regulations within their enterprise, through a number of methods and means, such as documents, guides, and personal assistance. A PMO is truly helpful in standardising and improving the way projects are handled, and thus should be good at minimising costs, errors, and incidents.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use pmo:

Led transition of high dollar/complex/configurable modules from PMO (Pilot Manufacturing Organization) to VMO (Volume Manufacturing Organization).

11. Direct Reports

Here's how manufacturing program managers use direct reports:

Managed corporate purchasing, production control, quality assurance, manufacturing engineering and facility maintenance departments (7 direct reports).
Supervised twenty-six direct reports in two production areas and managed/scheduled workforce capabilities base on booked and expedited revenue.

12. Quality Standards

Quality standards are a specific level of standards of products that are set by the companies for the customers that have to be met and maintained throughout the process until the time of delivery. Quality standards are information that includes the customer's requirements, guidelines, and characteristics for the needed final product or service.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use quality standards:

Lead Customer interface for assuring manufacturing operations met all customer shipment deliveries and quality standards.
Created product driven quality standards and selected product reliability standards.

13. MRP

MRP is an abbreviation of Material Requirements Planning and refers to the control system which is implemented in the planning and management of the activities related to manufacturing. Through MRP, manufacturers can easily schedule the production and it can also be used for inventory. MRP systems are mostly software-based but the process can also be carried out manually.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use mrp:

Incorporated Six Sigma/Lean principles and JIT Boeing Production Methods techniques, MRP.
Included coordination of all necessary documentation updates, MRP implementation and manufacturing process instruction changes and costing structure updates.

14. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use r:

Improved weld procedures and prepared plant for ASME U, UM, and R stamp audits.
Increased productivity by >20% on porcine surgical valves and >60% on the Evolut R line.

15. Product Quality

Product quality is the basic element of a business. It means to add features in a product or service in such a way that it meets the needs and wants of the customers. Enhancing the product quality also means improve the goods from any existing defects to ensure customer satisfaction.

Here's how manufacturing program managers use product quality:

Created and updated product quality documentation as necessary.
Managed OEM suppliers, Floor Supervisor, Responsible for Customer Satisfaction for the Product Quality, Manufacturing Engineer.

What skills help Manufacturing Program Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What technical skills for a manufacturing program manager stand out to employers?

Angela Sebby Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University

Business, creative, and organizational skills - I would recommend that upcoming graduates are proficient in Word, Excel (highly used), Powerpoint, Outlook (especially how to send meeting requests and calendar organization), TEAMS, Gantt charts for team management, Mindmapping for creativity, and design software. Additionally, I would recommend that they learn how to properly utilize social media for marketing and PR, not just personal posting. Finally, email etiquette would be essential.

What soft skills should all manufacturing program managers possess?

TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, Auburn University at Montgomery

Writing skills including email writing, being able to work in teams, and knowing the workplace etiquettes.

Do you want to know more?

List of manufacturing program manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a manufacturing program manager resume and required skills for a manufacturing program manager to have include:

Sigma
Continuous Improvement
Project Management
Process Improvement
Lean Six Sigma
Logistics
Lean Manufacturing
Production Control
Aerospace
PMO
Direct Reports
Quality Standards
MRP
R
Product Quality
Production Schedules

Supplier Quality
Capital Equipment
DFM
Medical Devices
Additive Manufacturing
Product Cost
Cam
ISO
CAD
Earned Value Management
CNC
Manufacturing Support
ERP
Cost Analysis
Quality Issues
Cost Reduction

MFG
Cost Estimates
OEM
EMS
Manufacturing Management
Product Line
RFQ
PCB
On-Time Delivery
Manage Cross
IPT
CMM
Cost Savings
RoHS
Engineering Changes

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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